Signaling apparatus



April 9, 1935. w. A. HARMS I SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1933 PatentedApr. 9, 1935 William A. Harms, Davenport, Nebr. I r Application December 19, 1933, Serial No. 703,116

, l 1 Claim.

This invention relates to asignaling'apparatus,

, and it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this kind having associated there- ,with means whereby I said apparatus will be {caused to operate intermittently and thus materially increase its efiiciency.

Itisals o an object of 'the'invention to provide a signaling apparatus particularlydesigne'd for connection with an automobile and in- 10 tended to be, active when the automobile is at a standstill to givewarning to an. approaching vehloleand thus igiving'dueynotice of a hazard in the roadway.

fa'si'gnaling apparatus of thiskind of an intermittentor'fl'ash type and which is particularly intended for-use when a vehicle is. at a'stand'still occasioned by an emergency, such as changing a tire, making irepairsorfor otherreasons which would cause theivehicle to b'ea' hazard to trafiic. additional object of the invention is to provide a flash orinte'rmittent signal for an automobildwhereih the operation of' the "signal is under control ofthe foscillatingshaft of a windshieldwiper." L 'Ihefinvention.yconsistS "in the details of construction andi'nthe combination and arrange- ,ment of the several parts of my improved signaling apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, lessexpensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

. The novel features of my invention will herematter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the samewith reference to the accompanying drawing, whereini- Figure 1 is a view in elevation and of a diagrammatic character illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, certain of the parts being in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation of the circuit making and breaking means as herein employed;

Figure 3 isa view partly side elevation and I partly in section of the apparatus as herein embodied} ,Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed elevational view illustrating one of the mountings as herein employed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, I denotes a shaft carrying a windshield wiper arm 2 and which shaft I is adapted to be oscillated in a well known manner by a suitable motor arranged within the casing 3. These parts in themselves form no part of the present invention as they are now Well known and in use and relate to a structure which is adapted to be mounted in proper position with respect to a windshield operator to assure clear vision for the driver of a car during inclement weather.

The end or head plate dot the casing 3 adjacent to the arm 2 has held thereto by the screws 5 or the like a pair of brackets 6. A bracket 6 v is at one side of the shaft I and'the second bracket Another object of the invention is to provide,

at the opposite side with the shaft l substantially midway of the brackets.

Each of the brackets, as herein disclosed, comprises an encircling member having a straight portion 6' and which encircling member is carried by and extends forwardly from the lower end portion of an arm 7. This arm 1 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 8 through which a holding screw 5 or the like passes whereby the bracket 6 may be readily and conveniently adjustedas the requirements of practice may necessitate. The brackets 6 are aligned in a plane above'the shaft I and said brackets snugly. receive the extremities of an elongated tubular member 9 of fibre or other desired insulating material, each of said extremities having a portion flattened, as at II), for proper coaction with the straight portion 6 of a bracket so that the tubular member 9 will be held against rotation. Each of the reduced portions I ll of the tubular member 9 produces a shoulder II spaced inwardly from the adjacent end of the member 9 a distance preferably equal to the width of the encircling member of a bracket 6. Each of these shoulders H coacts with a bracket to effectivelyhold the applied member 3 against endwise movement.

The central portion of the member 9 is out out to provide an elongated opening I2 opposed to the shaft I when the member 9 is applied so that a rocker member I4 oscillating with the shaft -I will have desired engagement with a spring contact member I5 to intermittently bring said spring contact into engagement with a stationary contact I6.

The spring contact I5 comprises an elongated arm possessing the required degree of inherent resiliency and having an end portion disposed inwardly of a sleeve ll of copper as is also the spring contact I5. This inner end portion of the arm as particularly illustrated in Figure 3 is soldered, welded or otherwise secured to the side edges of a'cut-out portion of the sleeve I! at the inserted extremity thereof, This connected portion of the spring contact arm I5 also has electrically connected therewith a conductor a inserted within the sleeve I I through the outer end thereof.

The stationary contact I6 comprises an elongated arm which is rigidly held or mounted within the inserted end portion of a second sleeve I8, the same being also preferably of copper as well as the stationary contact arm I6. This stationary contact armhas connected therewith a conductor b insertable within the sleeve I8 through the outer end thereof. 7

The outer end portion of each of the sleeves carries an outstanding lip or lug I9 whi'ch'is received within a pocket or recess 20 produced in the wall of the bore of the tubular member eat the outer end thereof so that when a sleeve I or I8 is applied the same will be effectively held against rotation and thus assure maintenance in desired position of the contacts I5 or IS.

The conductor his in electrical connection with a suitable source S of electrical energy and also leading from the source 'S is a conductor 0 and interposed in parallel with the conductors a and c are the signal devices D herein disclosed as electric lamps. It is, therefore, believed tobe apparent that with the operating circuit for the devices D normally closed, with the exception of course of the contact members I5 and I6, that as the shaft I is oscillated the member I4 will bring the contact I5 intermittently into engagement with the contact I6 and thus effect an intermittent flashing of he signal devices D.

'l'hese signal devicesD are adapted to be positioned .upon a .car at a location whereby in operation they will be readily observed by approaching carsand it is 'tobe stated that the signal devices D are primarily intended to function when the vehicle is at a standstill in the roadway and particularly inv emergency, such as repairing a tire or otherwise working upon the car.

'The advantages of my signaling apparatus are believed to be apparent as it will serve to materially eliminate traffic accidents due to a standing car not being seen by approaching traffic with resultant collision.

As illustrated in Figure 1, it is to be noted that the operating circuit for the signal devices D is also associated with the circuit for the motor operating the Wiper arm 2. The conductor 0 therefor has interposed therein two switches 2I and 22. The switch 2| is a main switch and when open breaks the circuit for both the signal devices D and the operating motor for the arm 2. When the switch 2I alone is closed the shaft I only will be operated'but with the switch 2 I closed, the closing of the switch 22 will result-in the desired flashing of the signal devices D as the shaft I is in motion.

From the foregoing description it is thought to 'beobvious that a signaling apparatus constructed in-accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and, facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification w'ithoutdepar'ting from vthe principles and spirit thereof and for this insulating material open at its ends and having an opening in its wall intermediate its ends, sleeves 'insertabl'e within the 'tublar member through the outer open ends thereof, "each of said sleeves being adapted for electrical connection within a circuit, the inserted end of one of the sleeves carrying a stationary contact, 'a movable contact carried by the inserted. end portion of the second sleeve and overlying the first named contact, and means working through the opening in thewall of the tubular member for intermittently engaging the movable contact to move the same into engagement with the stationary contact, each of saidsleeves and. the tubular memberhaving coacting means for'holding the sleeves against rotation within the tubular-member.

' WILLIAM A. HARMS. 

